Bosch gets Bok call-up

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 08:58

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks utility back Curwin Bosch is one of several interesting additions to an extended Springbok training squad.

Experienced prop Tendai Mtawarira, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and Bosch are part of the large contingent Sharks players included in the extended Springbok squad for their second training camp, from April 2 to 4 in Stellenbosch.

The Durban-based players were not considered for the first training camp, held last month in Johannesburg, because of overseas travel commitments at the start of the Super Rugby competition.

The second of three training camps - which are part of the Springboks' preparation plans for the forthcoming international season - will take place at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.

South Africa will host France in a three-match Test series in June, before the Rugby Championship gets underway in August.

The Springbok selectors invited a group of 13 Sharks players, 10 each from the Lions and Stormers as well as eight Cheetahs players to the three-day camp.

There are no players from the Bulls or the Southern Kings in the latest training group as these two franchises are in action abroad.

As with the first camp, there are also no overseas-based players included amongst the squad list of 41 players, adhering to Regulation Nine of World Rugby.

Lock Franco Mostert is not available for this camp as his wife is due to give birth to their first child.

Injured Springboks Pat Lambie, Uzair Cassiem and Ruan Combrinck have been invited to the camp, but injured players such as Damian de Allende and Jean-Luc du Plessis (both Stormers), who made the trip to the previous camp in Johannesburg, are not required to do so again.

Included amongst the 41 players are another five Young Guns, players all under the age of 23 years who have been earmarked as potential future Springboks.

Bok coach Allister Coetzee said he and his coaching staff are looking forward to continue their preparation work with the extended training squad.

"The first camp was very successful and we managed to cover a lot of our planning and training plans with the group that assembled in Johannesburg," Coetzee said.

"We aim to do the same in Stellenbosch.

"This group has a different look to it because of the addition of the Sharks players, while we are not able to call up players from the Bulls and the Southern Kings because they will be abroad when the camp takes place."

With a third camp planned for May, there is still time for players to catch the attention of the selectors, according to Coetzee.

"There is still one more camp to follow after Stellenbosch, so we will keep the door open for players who perform in Super Rugby.

"The camp provides another opportunity for us to cast the net wider and also to have a closer look at certain positions. There are a couple of new faces in this group who have shown consistently good form. I also want to thank our franchise and conditioning coaches for their continued collaboration and support," said Coetzee.

During their three-day stay in Stellenbosch, the group will undergo medical and conditioning assessments, attend gymnasium and undertake a couple of field training sessions.